Index card



April' 9, 1929. G, H, DAWSON 1,708,832

INDEX CARD Filed June 13', 1928 Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

NUNITED isTATEs PATENT oFFicE.

GEORGE H. DAWSON, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, `.ASSlIGrNOR TO SERVICE BUREAU, INC., OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

INDEX CAR-D.

Application filed .Tune 13,

rlhis invention relates to index cards for vertical filing systems and particularly to improvements in the projecting tab and transparent label holder of a guide card which is customarily employed in the usual vertical tile to separate into idcntiiiedgroups the cards, folders or other subject matter constituting the tiling system.

-The principal object of the invention is to provide a transversely curved tab at the upper margin of the guide card and a cooperating and correspondingly curved transparent label holder or sheath applied `over the tab in such manner that au index slip or label may be readily inserted between the cardtab and its protecting sheath and will be frictionally retained in its desired position without the necessity of providing abutments or other means for positioning and securing the label. Further ob-jects rcside in the particular construction of the elements hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims, which furnish a guide tab of simple and economical construction, possessing great strength, rigidity and resistance to distortion during handling.

Recommended embodiments of the inven tion are shown for the purpose of illustra tion in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a face view of a portion of an index card equipped with the improved tab and protective sheath; j

Fig. 2 is a rear View of the device of Fig. l; n

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line lf3-3 0of Fig. l with portions beyond the plane of section omitted; and U 4, 5 and 6 are views corresponding to Figs. l, 2 and 3, respectively, illustrating a modification.

The `guide card may be made of any suitably stiif sheet material such as cardboard, liber board or heavy paper, and comprises a body portion 7 and an integral projecting tab or tongue 8 at its upper edge, which is usually narrower than the body portion and which serves as a convenient handle for tilting or raising the guide and as a carrier for upstanding signals adapted to identify the iile contents located behind the guide. As the tab is normally subjected to considerable manipulation, particularly when employed in a vertical visible system in which card groups areraised or fanned out by lift- 1928. Serial No. 284,994.

ing the guide card, it is necessary to provide an encasement or protective sheath to stillen the tab and to resist the tendency of the tab to crack or brealr under handling stress. Both metal and Celluloid protectors have heretofore been employed for this purpose; butthe former' are expensive to manufacture the latter have not afforded the requisite rigidity and durability when applied, as heretofore, as a flat-sided sheath upon a straight, plane card tab.

Accordingly the tabs of the present improvement are transversely curved as indicated in Figs. 3 and 6 and `pressed in the desired shape to form permanent corrugations or arches substantially parallel to the upper edge of the card body. ln Fig. 3, the tab 8 4is curved forwardly and then rearwardly of the plane of the body portion 7; whereas in Fig. 6, the tab is curved only in one direction, rearwardly of the plane of the body. i

The transparent protective sheath or label holder, preferably consisting of a strip of sheet Celluloid, is adapted to encoi'npass the tab 8 and is curved or corrugated to correspond with the formation of the tab to which it is applied. The sheath is folded over the top of the tab to provide a front flap 9 and a rear ilap 10, and the lower corners of the respective flaps are preferably secured to the cardbody by suitable fastenings, such as the rivets or eyelets 1 1. Additional. intermediatei-iyelets 12 (Figs. l. to 4may be used to secure the bottom of the rear flap it desired.

The side edges of the sheath flaps preferably register with the sides or shoulders of the tab S and the rear flap l() is preferably held close against Vthe rear surface of the card and its tab. Accordingly the flap may be cemented or otherwise united to the tab, thus dispensingewith other fastenings. The front flap 9, however, is preferably secured at its lower corners as shown, so as to permit the insertion of a removable paper label or index slip 13 between it and the front face of the tab 8, whereby the label will be frictionally. retained within the sheath holder, by reason of the corrugated formation of the tab and sheath, against casual displacement in a vertical direction. Accordingly, the label ispreferably inserted from the bottom of the flap 9 (as best indi* cated in Fig. 1l), and the bottom edge of lae the flap is eut away intermediate its corners, as on the curve 14, to permit the label to be readily removed by grasping its lower margin.v The bottom edge of the rear' flap 10 may curve downwardlyas at 15, or may be otherwise formed so as to avoid registrabols may be inscribed directly upon the card vtab 8.v In either case the signals are so displayed as to be readily visible through the lcurved front flap et the transparent sheath, and are completely protected from moisture orsoilage by said flap.

The -device illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6 shows av modified type of label as well as an optional form of the protected tab. In these views the labels 16 are prepared in `stripform and are connected to each other atthe transverse perforations or weakened lines 17, so that the end label. may be inserted beneath the flap 9 and separated byr tearing along the perforations when it is partially inserted, as indicated yin Fig. 4. The label may then be pushed upwardly until its topedge substantially abuts the Vtold line of the sheath and its lower corners are covered by the front `flap as in Fig. 1. -An index tab constructed as above recommended is simple and economical to manufacture, and durable and wearfresis'ting in use,owing to the corrugated vformation of the' card tab and of lits protecting and reinforcing sheath; it serves as a smooth and convenient handle for tilting the card; and it is adapted to display aprotected signal ot Alarge size at theiproperangle of vision.

Whenfthe signal appears upon a separate label or index slip, the Vlabel may be readily inserted or removed fromV the sheath by hand, yet it will be effectivelyY retained yagainst Acasual displacement by contact with ythe correspondingly curved card tab and sheath fla-p between which it is tric-tionally held. Itwill be understood, however, that the structuraldetails herein described may be varied torsuit particular' purposes without departing from the essenceof' this invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim: Y 1. An index cardhaving an integral projecting tab at one edge, said tab being transversely curved to torni a cori-ligation extend- Hap being transparent to displa signal means carried on the front face o the tab.

2. An index card com )rising a body portion having an integral projecting tab ut one edge, a reinforcing sheath folded over the outer edge of the tab and having front and rear flaps, means for securing the inner corners of the front flap to the card, so that a label may be inserted behind said front flap between said securing means, the front Hap being transparent and said card tab and front flap being transversely curved, thereby frictionally to retain the label therebetween, and the rear flap extending downwardly over the rear face of the tab and being secured to the card.

8. An index card comprising a body p0rtion, a projecting tab at the upper edge of said body portion and integral therewith, a label holder of transparent sheet material folded over the upper edge of said tab and having front and rear flaps extending downwardly beyond the upper edge of the body portion, means for holding the rear flap against the rear face of the card fastenings at `the lowervcorners of the front Bap for 90- curing the flap to the card body, and a removable label adapted to be inserted beneath the front [lap and between the fastenings at 'the lower corners thereof, said front VHag and said card tab being transversely curve thereby rictionally to retain the label therebetween.

4. An index device comprising a oard having an integral projecting tab at its upper edge, said tab being transversely curved to forni a corrugation extending substantially parallel to said card edge, a label receiving and reinforcing sheath of transparent sheet material `folded over the upper edge of the card tab and having front and rear tlaps curved to fit against the curved laces of the tab, fastenings for securing the lower corners oi the flaps to the card, and a removable label ada )ted to be inserted upwltdly between said Vastenings und fretionally retained beneath the front flap, with its upper edge reaching approximately to the upper edge of the tab and with its lower corners covered by said front flap, the central p0rtion of the lower margin of said flap being cut away to permit the label to be grasped -or removal.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts. this 7th day ot June, 1928.

GEORGE H. DAWSON 

